Game of Thrones 4×05 – First of His Name

"Know your strengths, use them wisely, and one man can be worth 10,000."

After floundering about for quite a while in King’s Landing, it’s also refreshing to have Sansa with her aunt Lysa in The Eyrie. Her story is particularly unsettling as we discover that Lysa is quite jealous of the young Stark (she almost breaks her fingers while questioning her intentions with her new hubby Littlefinger). Most intriguingly, Lysa reveals that she in fact was the one who poisoned her husband Jon Arynn (the former hand of the King). In addition, she sent a letter to Catelyn framing the Lannisters – which kicked so many events into motion. It’s a fantastic twist that completely changes the show’s history in compelling ways.

Dany experiences a particularly pivotal moment this week as she makes the momentous decision to stay in Mereen and restore order to Yunkai and Astapor instead of carrying on and attacking King’s Landing. It’s definitely gratifying to see her so committed to ensuring the freedom of the slaves she saved. After taking so many rash decisions in the past, it’s refreshing to see her be so mature and level-headed. Kudos to character development!

The events at Craster’s Keep were especially disturbing as Karl got ready to rape Meera before Jon and the Night’s Watch arrived to the rescue. Everything about this storyline came to a thrilling climax as we got one heck of a fight between Jon and Karl (with one of Craster’s wives intervening and saving our hero), and Bran brilliantly warging into Hodor and outright SNAPPING Locke’s neck. And the cherry on top? The fact that Bran chooses to not approach Jon so that he can still pursue his mission. How many near misses are we going to get? Because this is just heart-wrenching.

Bits & Beheadings

– Fascinating scene between Margaery and Cersei. Does Cersei genuinely want Margaery to marry Tommen? Or is it a game? I love how Margaery pretends she hasn’t even entertained the thought of being Queen.

– Too funny: Lysa is all set for her marriage to Peter (the septon is even waiting outside to complete the formality).

– Absolutely hilarious: Lysa moaning in pleasure all night long and Sansa being unable to sleep.

– Loved Arya spouting off her long hit-list to the Hound and adding his name at the end.

– The Hound slapping Arya to the floor – not cool bro!

– I just love it when Cersei and Oberyn share screen-time. And Cersei’s tears over her daughter (who she hasn’t seen in a year) was pretty touching.

– Immensely satisfying moment with Jon stabbing Karl straight through the back of the head. Talk about gruesome!

– Also satisfying: Rast getting killed by Ghost (he did taunt him last week after all).

– I kind of wish Jon hugged Ghost but I guess the CGI budget couldn’t afford such a scene.

– Loved that Craster’s wives decided to burn the whole place to the ground.

Kings & Quips

Daenerys: Why should anyone follow me?
Jorah: You’re a Targaryen. You’re the Mother of Dragons.
Daenerys: I need to be more than that. I will not let those I have freed slide back into chains. I will not sail for Westeros.
Jorah: What, then?
Daenerys: I will do what queens do. I will rule.

Tywin: The crown owes the Iron Bank of Braavos a tremendous amount of money.
Cersei: How much?
Tywin: A tremendous amount.
Cersei: There must be someone at the Iron Bank you can speak to, come to some arrangement.
Tywin: The Iron Bank is the Iron Bank. There is no someone.
Cersei: Someone does work there. It is comprised of people.
Tywin: And a temple is comprised of stones. One stone crumbles and another takes its place. And the temple holds its form for 1,000 years or more. That’s what the Iron Bank is… a temple. We all live in its shadow and almost none of us know it.

Arya: I can’t sleep until I say the names.
The Hound: The names of every fucking person in Westeros?
Arya: Only the ones I’m going to kill.

The Hound: The hell you doing?
Arya: Practicing.
The Hound: What, ways to die?
Arya: No one’s going to kill me.
The Hound: They will if you nance around like that. That’s no way to fight.
Arya: It’s not fighting. It’s water dancing.
The Hound: Dancing? Maybe you ought to put on a dress.